Work Text:
Sunday, December 5th, 1982
James knew that his parents had always expected him to grow and get girlfriends, have a wife. James had expected that for himself, but that's not how it went.
It all started his sixth year at Hogwarts, when he was sixteen. Regulus had been fifteen, a fifth year, nothing more than James's best friend's brother. James had always thought he was straight, he had only ever had crushes on girls. At the time he like Lily Evans, until...until he saw, really saw, Regulus for the first time.
Love at first sight isn't real, but....James was definitely attracted at first sight.
Lily started to matter less and less, in a romantic sense at least, while Regulus kept appearing. Appearing in James's life, thoughts, and dreams. It wasn't until Christmas break, however, that he admitted his crush.
It was confusing and scary. James was straight, but Regulus was a boy. So, James couldn't like Regulus, yet, he did.
James went to Lily on the first day back after break, intending to ask her out. He still kinda liked her, and it would make him realize he was wrong about Regulus. He didn't ask her out.
Standing in front of her, all he could do was stutter out what he'd been feeling all school year. He was expecting disgust, it was 1977 after all, but he didn't get it. Lily was kind and supportive willing to listen.
You could, she had told him, like boys and girls. James knew some people did already, Remus was bisexual himself, but he had never thought he could be. Not until she told him it was okay.
It was still scary, but it was easier now. Now that he wasn't alone. Now that someone knew.
He didn't ask Regulus out immediately, though. That didn't come until a day that summer break when Regulus had come to visit Sirius, the older boy was living with James's family then.
It wasn't planned or anything, he just did it. And Regulus said yes! Well, eventually. At first he just thought it was a prank. But, once he was convinced otherwise, he said yes. And boy was James glad for it.
They had been dating for around five-and-a-half years now, and it had been amazing.
Sure there were some rough spots. Some fearful coming outs. Regulus was disowned.
But, all in all, it had turned out spectacular.
Now they were living together. Alone except for the cat, Marley, they adopted. Sirius claimed to hate it, but, honestly, they got on well.
James was planning on proposing to Regulus on Christmas. It was a big thing, and he was terrified of being rejected, ruining the holiday. But...it was a risk he was willing to take for Regulus.
James didn't know what the future would bring, but with Regulus, it was sure to shine.